Recognition:
Upperside is dark and iridescent blue with two long tails on HW; underside is dark with gold coloring near tails; abdomen is blue above and red-orange below.Flight period:
Adults are active from late March to November. Hostplants:
The larvae feed on mistletoes (Phoradendron species) which grow on trees such as oaks, cottonwoods, and sycamores.Habitat:
They are found around forest and desert edges and commonly streamside habitats where mistletoe hostplants are found growing on cottonwoods and sycamores. Males hilltop.Distribution:
Great Purple Hairstreaks are found across the southern U.S., south to Guatemala.
Other:
Most specimens in collections are from pupae found at the bases of mistletoe host trees and reared in captivity.